"Jonathan bought tickets for Glasgow, which cost him three shillings and
three pence for a second class fare. The railway attendants were so unpleasant
and in such short supply he found it very difficult to decide which was the
right train."

Backwards
to Britain is a diverting account of a Frenchman's view of our country
last century. Written in 1859, it was only found and published three years ago.

Verne, the father of science fiction, visited Britain only for a few days,
but it left a lasting memory and although the book was not published in his
lifetime, Jules Verne used it as a quarry for all sorts of details in his
novels.

Verne visited Scotland first, after arriving in Liverpool. Clearly he was
entranced by the Romantic aspects of Scotland, and had read all of the works of
Scott in translation.

He travelled to Stirling, Aberfoyle and the Trossachs. The opening quote was
written while he was at Stirling Train Station.

Backwards to
Britain, by Jules Verne, is published by Chambers and available from
the district libraries service.

Verne's impression of Victorian Liverpool, Edinburgh and London, his humorous
tales of adventure and perceptive analyses have all the hallmarks of his later
masterpieces.

Heather Bakewell

The Glaswegian 15.10.92

Jules Verne's romance with Scotland began on his first trip abroad in 1859.

While visiting Britain he discovered his passion for writing and the country
that was to become his first love.

The story of this journey was at first rejected by Verne's publishers and
didn't appear until 30 years later. Now in a modern edition it has been
published as a newly discovered classic with Verne describing in vivid detail
his first impressions of our country.